AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

600 crest

Operation: Patrol

Date: 03rd October 1940 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 600 Squadron (motto: Praeter sescentos - More than six hundred').11 Group

Type: Blenheim IVF

Serial: L4905

Code: BQ-M

Base: RAF Redhill, Surrey

Location: Broadstone Warren, Forest Row, Sussex

Pilot: P/O. Colin Anthony Hobson 42566 RAF Age 21. Killed.

Obs: AC.2. Charles Frederick Cooper 1003497 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. David Ernest Hughes NZ/40920 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 03:25 hrs on an operational patrol. After reading the patrol line the pilot called stating that an engine was not running well but that he would contuse with the patrol.

At 03:45 hrs he reported the the engine had failed and he was returning to base. Ten minutes later in heavy rain the aircraft ploughed through some tree tops on high ground with the Blenheim crashing at location shown. Just 13 miles from their base. All three crew lost their lives.

Burial details:

P/O. Colin Anthony Hobson. Banstead Churchyard (All Saints). West of Church. Born on the 25th October 1918 at Monxton. Awarded his wings on the 03rd November 1939. Son of George Colin and Mary Victoria Hobson, of Monxton, Hampshire. Grave inscription: 'Son Of May & Colin Hobson Brother Of Olive & Guy. Never Was So Much Owed By So Many To So Few - Churchill'.

AC.2. Charles Frederick Cooper. Heath Town Churchyard (Holy Trinity). Old ground. Row 38. Grave 63. Born on 28th January 1920, worked in a Grocers prior to service. Enlisted in June 1940. Son of Enoch and Amelia Cooper, of Heath Town, Wolverhampton. Grave inscription: 'Happy And Smiling Always Content Loved And Respected Wherever He Went'.

Sgt. David Ernest Hughes. Whyteleafe Churchyard (St Luke). Row G. Grave 32. Born on the 20th October 1912 at Dunedin. A Farmer on his fathers farm at Riverlea prior to service. Enlisted at Levin on the 09th April 1940. Joined 600 squadron on the 21st September from 50 operational Training Unit.Awarded air gunners badge and promoted to sergeant on the 27th May 1940. Son of David Alfred Hughes, and of Jimima Jane Hughes (nee Watson), of Kaponga, Taranaki, New Zealand. A total of 29 flying hours logged and completed 3 operational sorties.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 25-03-2021

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025
Last Modified: 25 March 2021, 18:41

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor